Chapter 181: The Clown Is Me All Along!
"Even if the galaxy is eternally a mossy green, we should still light up the long night; even if the situation is chaotic and disorderly, we should still look forward and crush the chaos."
There was a tiny bit of embarrassment. Bronya's thoughts were a mess, recalling the last time she recited something like this was during her sixth-grade initiation ceremony, yet her expression remained serious, betraying no unusual feelings.
"Thank you for riding the Astral Express. Because of you, we are able to light up the stars and make wonderful things happen."
Pom-Pom spoke in Otto's elegant and modulated voice.
The Express crew members, gathered in a circle around Bronya, spoke in unison with solemn and dignified tones:
"May this journey ultimately reach the stars."
However, as the chorus ended, the atmosphere suddenly fell silent for a moment, the air uncomfortably quiet.
It was truly awkward!
Even little March 7th found this part awkward, while the stoic Dan Heng maintained his poker face throughout.
Her fair, tender face was flushed and incredibly cute, her small lips gently pursed. The last time the initiation ceremony was recited by Seele, even she felt terribly embarrassed.
The next second, the silent atmosphere was broken.
"Omedetou!"
Crisp applause suddenly rang out. Everyone turned in surprise, only to see Caelus smiling and clapping.
In the awkward atmosphere, the "leading goose effect" became even more pronounced. To shake off the embarrassment, someone took the lead, and March 7th immediately followed, clapping along.
"Omedetou!"
With Caelus and March 7th clapping, everyone else subconsciously joined in.
Stelle was also about to clap in congratulation, but a scene that appeared in her subconscious made her stop. It was as if she saw déjà vu: a group of people smiling and clapping around a white-clad youth.
Damn, that's so weird!
"Thank you, everyone."
Bronya smiled with delight.
Paying homage to EVA in the MiHoYo Multiverse, nothing wrong with that!
"However, as a newcomer, may I make a suggestion?"
"Of course, no problem, Pa." Pom-Pom folded its short arms across its chest.
"This segment should really be canceled. It's too embarrassing."
According to Bronya's personality, having experienced the rain herself, she should logically tear up the umbrellas of her juniors and film their initiation ceremonies in the future for a classic, timeless tradition.
However, considering that several of her own "alt accounts" might join the crew in the future, if this ceremony were repeated a few more times, her toes would curl from the discomfort.
Dan Heng raised his voice: "Seconded!"
March 7th had Stelle pick her up, and she raised both hands and feet: "I support it! I support it!"
Even Himeko nodded repeatedly.
"Wh-why like this, Pa? o(╥﹏╥)o"
"I'm sorry, Conductor, it seems only the two of us are in the minority." Welt sighed regretfully; he felt it had a good sense of ritual.
"Alright, the Conductor can only respect the vote, Pa." Pom-Pom's ears drooped immediately.
"Yay!"
March 7th and Stelle hugged each other, jumping up and cheering. Caelus could clearly feel the wonderful jelly-like, springy sensation coming from his chest.
"The ceremony is over. The next step is to choose rooms."
Himeko, having prepared a cup of coffee for herself at the bar, took a sip and chuckled softly.
However, as if suddenly remembering something, Himeko slightly furrowed her delicate brows: "Speaking of which, it seems there are currently no rooms ready for immediate occupancy."
When Stelle, Caelus, and Seele joined, the guest car happened to have three prepared rooms, which were usually reserved for guests visiting or experiencing the Express.
So, the three of them only needed to tidy up a bit, change the bedding and toiletries, and could move in directly with their bags.
"It's time for a major tidying up."
Himeko placed the coffee cup on the bar, the ceramic clinking with a crisp sound.
The Express now had many carriages missing.
With only the existing carriages, to ensure everyone had sufficiently spacious and comfortable private quarters, and to reserve one or two rooms for visitors, it could probably accommodate just over ten Trailblazers.
March 7th happily sipped the milk tea beverage prepared by Pom-Pom, playfully swinging her legs, but her face immediately fell sour upon hearing Himeko's words.
"Huh? A major tidying up?"
The Express rooms were currently sufficient for living, but not as ready for immediate move-in as they were back then.
Most of the unoccupied rooms were piled high with miscellaneous items… or rather, not just miscellaneous items, but souvenirs from planets explored in the past, gifts from friends they had made, and local specialties.
Every trailblazing journey brought back a full haul.
For instance, on this trip to Jarilo-VI, Stelle and Caelus bought back two pairs of almost every type of black stockings from Jarilo-VI; these stockings alone filled two large bags.
Guitars and basses from Serval, small mechanical tools from Clara, and gifts from the Underworld wanderers and Belobog residents to the heroes.
Food, drinks, or ordinary gifts were easy enough to deal with, but special gifts, like handmade dolls from children, were simply too precious to throw away!
One person's haul from a single trailblazing journey was already so much; after several such journeys, it would definitely be impossible to fit all the accumulated treasures in one's own room.
So, the entire Express crew essentially used the unoccupied rooms as storage rooms.
Among them, March 7th's items occupied the most space.
Thinking of her own piled-up, messy odds and ends, March 7th couldn't help but tug at her hair.
"Why not take this opportunity to expand the storage room's folded space?" Welt suggested.
Even if new carriage parts couldn't be collected in the future, the guest car's space could be expanded to increase living area.
However, doing so would mean tearing down the entire interior layout of the carriage, completely redecorating, and requiring passengers to move around, which would be too troublesome.
But Welt felt he might be worrying needlessly.
In the short term, it was unlikely that so many people would join the Express.
"Then let's expand the common storage room, Pa." Pom-Pom nodded.
The volume of folded space is proportional to the energy consumed. The Astral Express contains the miraculous power of "Trailblaze," and if fully unleashed, it could create a small world.
But that would be a meaningless waste of energy, as "Trailblaze" energy is extremely precious and can only be replenished through "Trailblazing."
Although the energy is precious, Pom-Pom is not stingy; it will be used when needed. Merely expanding the storage room wouldn't cost much Trailblaze Power.
"Bronya, which room will you choose?" Dan Heng asked indifferently.
Whichever room Bronya chose, the Express crew would tidy up that room's contents first.
Dan Heng had very few personal belongings, not even a fifth of March 7th's.
"Everyone doesn't need to be so hasty; take your time."
Bronya picked up the drink served by the Herta maid, maintaining her persona as she politely thanked her.
"But if the room isn't tidied up today, where will you stay, Bronya?" March 7th tilted her head.
"Bronya can squeeze in with me! No problem! My room is huge!"
Stelle immediately jumped out, taking on a righteous and generous stance, though her small eyes darting towards Bronya's ample chest betrayed her true intentions.
"Thanks, Stelle, but…"
Bronya smiled charmingly, a hundred graces blossoming with her words: "I'll just stay with Caelus."
("#ﾟдﾟ)"
Bronya's reply instantly petrified the enthusiastic grey-haired girl, and the cookie she was chewing suddenly lost its flavor.
The Clown Is Me All Along!?
"Pom-Pom, does the Astral Express have any discounts for couples on board, like half-price rent… or double the Express fund?" Bronya asked, grinning.
"There's no such thing, Pa."
"Ah, this…"
The others exchanged glances, suddenly realizing the special relationship between Bronya and Caelus.
Only Himeko looked surprised. Wasn't it Belobog's Grand Guardian who was engaged to Caelus? How could this Bronya from a parallel world also…
"Isn't this inappropriate? As a Trailblazer of the Astral Express, Bronya should have her own room."
It wouldn't be noticeable in a large villa or manor, but if she imagined seeing Caelus and Bronya in an intimate posture within the guest car, and thought about what the two might be doing next door, March 7th felt a strange sensation in her heart.
"Besides, it'll actually be quick. Doesn't Caelus have the omnipotent Shadow Legion?"
"Oh, that's right!"
Stelle slapped her palm, and little March 7th, the more she thought about it, the more she felt she was truly a genius.
Not only could they help tidy up a room for Bronya, but the Shadow Ninjas could also help her organize her belongings.
"Help me, Mr. Caelus!" March 7th suddenly hugged Caelus's arm and shouted.
Stelle was even more unreserved, rubbing against Caelus's body, "Where's the mask? Where's my mask?"
"Hey, stop touching me randomly."
Swatting away the restless little hand, Caelus warned the Stellaron-infused prankster who, having been rained on herself, now tried to tear his umbrella, and pulled out the Tala Mask from his system equipment space.
"Humph humph~"
Stelle snatched it and slapped it onto Caelus's face, hands on hips, head held high in an unusually charming and playful manner: "Come forth, my servants!"
Caelus gave "Star Baby" a hand chop on the head, and dozens of Shadow Ninjas emerged from the surrounding shadows.
"What is this!?" Himeko, who was just wondering about March 7th's words, was astonished.
Through satellite surveillance, she had witnessed the battles on Jarilo-VI and knew of the Shadow Soldiers' existence, but she never imagined Caelus could summon them.
"Himeko-jie, let me tell you, the Shadow Ninjas are amazing!" March 7th enthusiastically began to explain to Himeko.
Cooking, cleaning, tidying rooms, feeding… Himeko's expression grew stranger and stranger the more she listened.
Such unique, magic-like power, and this is how you use it?
"Let's go!"
March 7th dragged Caelus and Stelle, followed by the vast entourage of Shadow Servants, towards the room piled high with miscellaneous items.
"Even if the room is cleaned out, it will need redecoration before it's habitable. Hmm, I'll take this opportunity to redecorate my room as well."
Caelus felt his current room was okay, but honestly, it was just average, after all, it was originally a guest room.
"Hehe, are you jealous after seeing how exquisite my room is?"
March 7th proudly puffed out her chest; all of that had been meticulously designed by her.
"Does this maiden need to provide technical guidance?"
"Seele can also help." The fair-skinned girl clenched her small fists.
"Renovation… redecoration…"
Only Stelle, hearing this, seemed to have an idea, furrowing her brows in thought. As she passed the room adjacent to hers and Caelus's, the grey-haired girl's eyes snapped open.
"I want to redecorate too!"
She had a great idea!
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